NEIGHBORS STAGE PARTIES TO FIGHT CRIME

Throughout Hollywood, residents heated up the grills, barbecued and had a good time Tuesday night while showing neighbors and thieves they aren't scared to walk and party on their streets.

Originally scheduled for Aug. 2, the 12th annual Night Out Against Crime was rescheduled after Hurricane Erin forced last week's festivities to be canceled.

On Tuesday night, Hollywood crime watch groups along with city officials staged block parties across the city with entertainment, music, food and drinks. Each block celebrated a little differently, but the objective was the same: to take back their streets from crime.

"Mostly everybody on my block is aware of Crime Watch, but this way everybody gets to know each other," said Evelyn Serrano, Crime Watch block captain, as her husband prepared the barbecue and Spanish music blasted from a radio.

She expected a small gathering, because there are only 10 to 12 houses on her 6000 block of Wiley Street, but they would still make a nice party out of it with the burgers and corn on the cob, Serrano said.

At the 3000 block of Cleveland Street, the crowd reached about 50. Most were regulars of the neighborhood parties, said block captain Bonnie Lochman, as she surveyed the guests and a dozen kids who were playing in the plastic pool on the lawn. "We're like one big family here," said John Lang as he piled more burgers and hot dogs on the grill and on his neighbors' plates.

"This is good because a lot of the citizens get involved," said Hollywood patrol officer Paul Andrianis, who was visiting the block party in his zone at 5600 Flagler Street in central Hollywood. "It's important to build a relationship with them because the people who live on the street is where you get the information from."

Religious groups, such as the Nation of Islam, and local African bands were scheduled to attend the Flagler Street block party, said block captain Jonathan Anderson.